Bilateral cooperation with sending countries is advancing for Ikusei Shuro (育成就労, "Employment for Skill Development"), the new programme due to replace the Technical Intern Training system from April 2027. Japan signed memoranda of cooperation (MOC) with Thailand on 2 June 2026 and, in quick succession, with Uzbekistan on 29 June 2026.
- Japan–Thailand (signed 2 June): Japan's Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and National Police Agency signed with Thailand's Ministry of Labour — the first cooperation memorandum concluded under the Ikusei Shuro programme.
- Japan–Uzbekistan (signed 29 June, announced 30 June): the same four Japanese ministries/agencies signed with the Agency for External Labour Migration under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan (ウズベキスタン共和国内閣府附属移民庁).
- 「両国が協力して、育成就労外国人の保護をはじめ、育成就労制度の適正な運用を図ることを目的としています。」 ("The aim is for both countries to cooperate on the proper operation of the Ikusei Shuro programme, including the protection of Ikusei Shuro workers.")
- Practical note: under the current Technical Intern Training programme, four organisations have been removed from Thailand's list of authorised sending organisations (per OTIT, the Organization for Technical Intern Training). Supervising organisations and host companies handling Thai technical intern trainees should check the latest list.
Hokkaido employers in agriculture, food processing and similar sectors that accept Thai technical intern trainees should factor this into their planning for the 2027 transition.
Source: Immigration Services Agency (Japan–Thailand) / OTIT (Japan–Uzbekistan) / OTIT (Thailand sending organisations)
